Fulford School

Fulford School
Address
Map
Fulfordgate
Heslington Lane

York
,
North Yorkshire
,
YO10 4FY

England
Coordinates53°56′11″N 01°04′01″W / 53.93639°N 1.06694°W / 53.93639; -1.06694
Information
TypeAcademy
MottoRealising potential, creating the future
Established1963
Local authorityCity of York
Department for Education URN144711 Tables
OfstedReports
Head teacherStephen Lewis
Staff135
Enrolment1,400
HousesApollo, Artemis, Athena, Atlas
Colour(s)Indigo and blue
School VLE:http://vle.fulford.york.sch.uk
Websitehttp://www.fulford.york.sch.uk

Fulford School is a coeducational comprehensive school on Fulfordgate near Heslington Lane in Fulford, York, England.

History

Fulford School was founded in 1963 and has been a comprehensive school since 1970. The site is close to the former Fulfordgate football ground, demolished in 1932. It is also adjacent to the Germany Beck site, where The Battle of Fulford happened. Its original motto was 'A posse ad esse' which translates to "from possibility to realisation". This can still be seen in the Archimedes block where there is a logo print on the floor.[citation needed]

The school became an academy in 2018, as the founder school of a multi-academy trust.[1][2]

Key information

The school is situated in Fulford on the southern edge of the city of York, about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) from the University of York. It currently takes in pupils from York including Hungate, Fulford and Fishergate as well as from the nearby villages of Dunnington, Elvington, Wheldrake, Thorganby, Escrick, Naburn and Bishopthorpe. The current headteacher is Mr Harris,[3] who was appointed in 2024.

Performance

Fulford School was highlighted by The Independent as having the third best sixth form of all Comprehensive Schools in England.[4] It has been suggested that this may be the reason why many pupils from independent schools have left the private sector and continued their studies at Fulford School.[5]

In 2007, the school received the best A level results in York LEA area, and the third best in the Yorkshire and the Humber region, higher than four grammar schools.[citation needed]

In 2013, 80% of all pupils attained five GCSEs grade A* to C, including English and Mathematics. This is an increase of four percentage points since 2012.[6]

In 2019 the school's GCSE results were above average, and the Progress 8 measure was well above average.[7] In the same year, the average A level grade at the school was B, compared to B− across York and C+ nationally.[8]

In the 2012 government Top 10 list of 'Highest proportion of pupils going to Oxbridge Universities' (non-selective schools/colleges), Fulford School was listed joint second, with 6%.[9]

As of 2020, the school has not been inspected by Ofsted since 2011, when it was judged Outstanding.[10]

Achievements

A group of students from the school, working with students from University of York, won the Regional Millennium Volunteer of the Year Team Award in 2007 for their work in renovating a youth room for young people.[11]

Headteachers

  1. J. Swan (1963–1969)
  2. J. A. D. Shaw (1969–1978/79)
  3. E. K. Hayton (1978/79–2001)
  4. Steven Smith (2001–2013)
  5. Lorna Savage (2013–2019)
  6. Stephen Lewis (2019–2024)
  7. Russel Harris (2024 - present)

Expansion

An increase in the number of pupils on roll led to a £3.5 million building programme in 2003, which included the 'Archimedes Block' or 'A block'. This has added several new specialist classrooms: 4 rooms for geography, 8 for mathematics, and 2 for ICT.[12] The addition of specialist status in Mathematics and Computing has also facilitated the upgrade of ICT facilities in the school, with a new centre added in 2006 to allow the school to offer 10 places to students with autism spectrum disorders.[13]

In 2015, major housing developments within the school catchment area in Hungate, Germany Beck and the Barbican site led to £7 million expansion. This included the 'Newton block'[14] or 'N block'.[15] This has added six new classrooms; 5 for geography, 1 for history; and a new sixth form common room. In addition, the old sixth form area was converted into 2 art/textiles rooms[16] along with a new science lab. These facilities opened in September 2015.

A purpose built sports hall was opened by cricketer Ryan Sidebottom in March 2016, with the new facilities being shared with the wider community outside of school hours.[17]

In order to cater for the extra students, the school canteen was refurbished and redesigned, which was completed in October 2016. A larger food technology room, photography studio, drama studio and classroom have also been created in the Hawking block.

In 2020, £1 million of funding was approved for a new access road from the adjacent Germany Beck housing development. The funding also includes refurbishing existing temporary classrooms, allowing students and staff to socially distance more easily during the COVID-19 pandemic.[18]

Notable former pupils

References

  1. ^ Harford, Shaun (2018). "Academy conversion and predecessor schools". Ofsted. Ofsted. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  2. ^ Lewis, Haydn (15 January 2018). "York's Fulford School starts own academy trust". The York Press. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  3. ^ "Home". Fulford School. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  4. ^ "A-Levels: Best-performing comprehensive schools". The Independent. London: Independent News & Media (published 17 August 2007). 2007. Archived from the original on 1 January 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2008.
  5. ^ "An outstanding sixth form", The Independent, London: Independent News & Media (published 10 January 2008), 2008
  6. ^ "An outstanding sixth form", Ofsted Reports, no. URN: 121684, DfE No.: 8164153, London, 2013, archived from the original on 22 December 2013
  7. ^ "Fulford School: Secondary". Find and compare schools in England. DfE. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  8. ^ "Fulford School: 16–18". Find and compare schools in England. DfE. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  9. ^ "Top 10 schools/colleges – highest proportion going to Oxbridge – non selective", Making Schools and Colleges More Accountable and Funding Them Fairly, London (published 17 July 2012), 2012
  10. ^ Jarrett, Philip (2011). "Fulford School Inspection report". Ofsted. Ofsted. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  11. ^ "Student volunteers' accolade for youth room transformation". York: University of York (published 26 January 2007). 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2008.
  12. ^ "York school plans £3.5m expansion". BBC News. BBC (published 10 January 2003). 2003. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
  13. ^ "School centre to aid pupils with autism". Yorkshire Post. 16 May 2006. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  14. ^ "New classroom". Fulford School. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  15. ^ "Details of Fulford School's new facilities are revealed". York Press. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  16. ^ "Fulford school new art rooms". Fulford School. Fulford School. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  17. ^ "Top cricketer drops in to open York school sports hall". York Press. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  18. ^ "Council to put more than £1m towards school expansion and new route". York Press. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  19. ^ "Rowan Coultas, 12, competes in Burton European Snowboarding Open". The York Press. 13 January 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  20. ^ "Rugby ace dies at 41". York Press. 3 January 2006. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  21. ^ Laycock, Mike (11 March 2021). "York head teacher speaks of 'great sadness' at former pupil's disappearance". York Press. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  22. ^ "Profile: Jeff Fairburn". The Yorkshire Post. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  23. ^ Williers, Daniel (18 October 2017). "York author narrowly misses out on Man Booker Prize". The York Press. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  24. ^ Jacob, Liana (17 April 2023). "Donna Preston Scared of the Dark: Who is the York actor and comedian starring in the Channel 4 show presented by Danny Dyer and what roles is she known for?". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 9 September 2023.